Introduction to Asian American Studies: Final Zine Project (4) - Lauren Hendrickson - Kelli Kufta - Madi Earnshaw - Hayley Lee

On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous By: Ocean Vuong Group 6: Lauren Hendrickson, Kelli Kufta, Hayley Lee, & Madi Earnshaw

KEY POINTS OF THE TEXT… In this novel, Little Dog is writing a letter to his mother as a way to go back in time. He makes multiple attempts to write his letter, indicating to the reader that he struggles to express his message to his mother. Specifically, Little Dog writes that he wishes to return to a time when his mother was “shocked to see a taxidermy head of a deer hanging near the bathroom of a rest top.” This example introduces the struggles to understand American culture & society being an immigrant. Although he finds it difficult to express his words, Little Dog sees the value in writing & the power that it has to bring people together & build stronger connections to encounter the truth. He writes this letter as almost a confession to his mother that she will never read because of her illiteracy. Little Dog alludes that his mother is an immigrant by discussing butterflies, a common motif throughout the novel. He discusses the migration patterns of monarch butterflies, & emphasizes the importance of migration as means for survival. The reference to the butterfly migration is used throughout the novel to tell how his mother migrated to Vietnam & introduces us to her experiences as an immigrant. Little Dog’s mother is abusive towards him throughout his life. He writes the letter as a way of fixing their mother-son relationship. Little Dog explains the trauma that war & abuse can cause & the lasting impact that it has. He believes that his mother’s PTSD from living through the Vietnam War causes her to act out against him in an abusive way. Little Dog emphasizes that the trauma of war & the pain that comes with it never really goes away and remains part of one’s identity throughout time. Little Dog talks about the struggles of speaking English while navigating American society/culture. Although his mother abuses him, their shared struggles of adapting to a new culture & language barrier explain why they rely on one another. Additionally, they bond together as products of the Vietnam War and the resulting trauma. The text points out many different areas of topics regarding gender & sexuality expectations. Little Dog is the opposite of what ‘masculinity’ portrays. He is small & petite, which opposes the idea of a big & strong All-American male. Rose tells Little Dog, “You have to find a way, Little Dig. You have to be a real boy & be strong.” She expects him t drink a least a cup of milk a day to grow. Throughout the course of the novel, his superman underwear acts as a symbol of masculinity & encourages him to stay strong and be a man. He faces abuse both at home and school-based on his identity. He isn’t seen as a real man or tough which shows the stereotypical depictions of gender and masculinity. The story about Little Dog trying on his mother's dress suggests he does not conform to American gender stereotypes and is not heterosexual. Trevor is used in the novel as a character that displays ideal masculinity. He likes guns, violence, drugs, and represents hegemonic masculinity. Although he is described sometimes in feminine terms by Little dog later in the novel. Additionally, Little dog and Trevor are sexually and romantically linked later in the story. For the first time, Little dog begins to acknowledge the beauty of being not heterosexual and an immigrant. However, their relationship is placed under strain by the typical gender roles in a